Anti-Abortion Advocates Pleased By Modest, But Sustained, Gains From Trump Administration

“Even with what’s already been done—add that to what we think will be done—I would say this is the most pro-life presidency in the modern era,” says Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. “We’d be hard-pressed to say any other administration has made more gains.”

The Wall Street Journal: Trump Administration Moves Cheer Abortion Foes

The Trump administration has taken a series of steps to cut funds for abortion providers and promote conservative reproductive policies, moving toward what supporters and opponents say could be the most antiabortion presidential agenda in recent memory. A high-profile push to withhold federal Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions as well as an array of other women’s health services, fizzled this summer along with the larger Republican health care effort. But the administration has pursued more modest initiatives—rescinding Obama-era rules, curtailing contracts, making key appointments—that could broadly shape access to abortion and contraception. (Hackman, 9/15)

In other news from the administration —

USA Today: Ben Carson Says Housing Must Be Healthy, Safe And Affordable

Residents of Florida and Houston's mold and toxic air and water concerns after floodwaters receded are the latest example of the nexus between health and housing that is becoming a top priority for the Trump administration's housing chief. Former neurosurgeon, presidential candidate and now-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is a big believer in looking at housing as a major "social determinant of health." That includes victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. (O'Donnell and Gilyard, 9/17)

Kaiser Health News: Trump’s Deadline On ‘Dreamers’ Reverberates Through Health Industries

Karla Ornelas said she has “always had the idea of being a doctor, I’ve never seen myself doing anything else.” The third-year pre-medical student at the University of California-Davis said she plans to become a family medicine physician and work in California’s Central Valley, where there is a great need for doctors and especially bilingual doctors. (Heredia Rodriguez and Ibarra, 9/18)

Columbus Dispatch: Trump Officials Propose Again Letting Nursing Homes Force Residents, Families Into Arbitration

The pre-dispute agreements waive residents’ right to sue, forcing them and their families to settle issues through a professional arbitrator instead of the court system. The Obama administration moved to ban such agreements late last year, but a change in administrations brought an about-face on the issue. Over the summer, the Trump administration proposed withdrawing the ban before it had even taken effect because of pending court cases. (Widman Neese, 9/18)

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